Sustainability - Sayre School | Academic Excellence in PK-12 Sustainability and Campus Farm Initiatives Committed to environmental education At Sayre School, we strive to instill a lifelong commitment to sustainability by providing students with unique, hands-on learning experiences that help them discover their place in the natural world. Our educational approach is built on: Immersive learning: Students across all three divisions engage in year-round activities that bring environmental stewardship to life, such as tending to our campus farm. Community partnership: We extend our classroom beyond our grounds by collaborating with local organizations, including the Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council (BYSC), to help students gain real-world experience. Environmental stewardship: Through these intentional programs, we empower our students to become active, informed guardians of the earth. Our policies and commitment Beyond the curriculum, Sayre School is dedicated to fostering a culture of ecological responsibility through operational excellence. We translate our values into practice through intentional policies that prioritize: Energy efficiency: We implement strategic measures across campus to reduce our energy footprint and promote efficient consumption. Conservation: We are committed to mindful resource management to ensure that our campus operations remain as sustainable as possible. Ecological integrity: Our administrative and operational policies are designed to protect our natural surroundings and uphold our duty to environmental stewardship. Accomplishments Energy conservation Solar panel installations: 30 solar panels were installed at the Upper School in the fall of 2019 and 90 solar panels were installed at the Lower School in the Spring of 2020. The panels on campus have prevented the release of nearly 20 tons of carbon dioxide so far. (As of March 2022. 1MW = 1000kw. 1kw = 0.85lbs of carbon dioxide on average when generated from fossil fuels.) Halogen lights in the gym and all exit signs in all buildings have been replaced with energy efficient LEDs. A vending miser was installed in the gym drink machine to reduce energy consumption. Bike racks on campus encourage sustainable methods of transportation. Waste reduction Recycling bins are available across many parts of campus, with recycling of batteries, metal, and electronics also available. In partnership with TerraCycle, recycling of disposable masks, gloves, and office supplies is also available. Compost containers exist outside the Upper and Middle School buildings. By providing water bottle refill stations, we are reducing single-use plastic water bottles. Our Buttery offers local food products whenever possible, and our staff seek to reduce disposable packaging as well. Water conservation We installed a storm drain mitigation system at the Sayre Athletic Complex to reduce erosion and improve water quality in the nearby creek. A rain garden behind the Parker House made of native plants diverts water from the street, reducing flooding in neighborhood basements. Native plant installations on campus, including our Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden, support local pollinators. Environmental awareness Many environmental activities occur during the month of April, specifically during the week leading up to Earth Day. Past events have included Zero Trash Day, Zero Food Waste Day, and black-out periods with limited energy use. Campus Farm The Campus Farm at Sayre is an enterprise involving Lower and Middle School students.  Students construct, fill, and maintain raised beds on several different sites around campus.  At the Lower School, the little gardeners grow cut flowers and cool weather crops for sale.  The Middle Schoolers raise peppers from seed and then use the harvests to make pepper jellies and canned peppers.  A portion of the harvests, from both the Lower and Middle Schools, are used in Buttery lunches.  Additionally, the students maintain two separate native gardens and a wildlife garden to support pollinator species and control rainwater run-off. Diploma of Distinction in Sustainability _____________________________ Through our Diploma of Distinction in Sustainability, Sayre students gain an understanding of economic, social, and environmental responsibility on a regional, national, and global scale, and demonstrate that knowledge through practical application such as school projects, community service, or research. Green Council _____________________________ Members of the Green Council consider ways our campus can be more environmentally responsible and sustainable through initiatives such as recycling, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. Environmental news and blogs _____________________________ The World as Our Classroom: Sustainability and Environmental Education At Sayre School, we believe that the world is our classroom, a place where students learn to care for the earth as they discover their place in it. We are committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship through teaching and policies that promote energy efficiency, resource conservation, and ecological responsibility.